Greek, A Proto-Corinthian pottery lidded pyxis, circa 650 - 625 BC

The body of the pyxis is decorated with a thick red band with a double dot pattern above. The surface of the lid is ornamented with a thick red band, double dot pattern and delicate thin black bands. Three thick black bands decorate the knopped handle.

Provenance

With Frank Sternberg AG, Zurich, 1991

Literature

A pyxis (pl. pyxides) is a small round box that could be made of wood, ceramic, or marble. Examples in ceramic first appear in the Geometric period, and remain popular thereafter. The pyxis belonged predominantly to the world of women, domestic and religious. At home such diminutive, lidded cylindrical containers held trinkets, jewellery, and cosmetic creams, serving essential roles in the process of adornment, or kosmesis. They were also presented as grave offerings at the tomb, and as temple dedications to goddesses such as Aphrodite, Demeter, Athena and Artemis. For a pyxis with similar decoration see, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum Gela, Museo Archeologico Nazionale 1, III.C.4, pl. 2296, 2.6-7 (Beazely archive no 9008009).

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MIKROS - Artworks under £10,000

Provenance

Literature